Superintendent Glenda Ritz Visits ISTA-Retired Frances Slocum Chapter

 

Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz came to Marion Thursday night and spoke to a crowd of about 75 teachers, administrators, public school patrons and tax payers who are interested in our public schools.

The meeting, headlined by Ritz was sponsored by the Frances Slocum Chapter of the Indiana State Teachers Association. Ritz, who is seeking re-election this year is committed to continue her work to eliminate the high stakes ISTEP standardized test and establish an assessment process for measuring educational growth in our schools through an array of appropriate multiple measures. Ritz stated that Indiana teachers need to be allowed to focus on teaching students. Hoosier education should cover an in-depth, broad curriculum. Cutting instructional program opportunities and stripping Indiana's educational focus down to teaching to a standardized test is a disservice to our Hoosier children.

Ritz told of the audience of her visits to schools around the state. She elaborated on her efforts to help struggling and failing schools, emphasizing that expectations placed upon our local schools are much more complex than the simple A-F grade indicated by the current Indiana Legislature enacted ISTEP testing model. She told of successful school turnarounds that have been aided by the Indiana Department of Education under her leadership.

Ritz closed her address by taking questions from the audience. Topics included the teacher shortage, STEM teacher shortages, salary inequities, legislative attempts to expand vouchers, and the tax circuit breaker law and its devastating budgetary impact on our local schools.

Comments earlier in the evening by Frances Slocum Chapter President, David Hudelson, as he introduced Superintendent Ritz, reminded the audience that electing Ritz to a second term is not all that needs to be accomplished. Ritz needs to have the support of the next Indiana Governor, allowing her to implement her stated educational policy agenda. The current Indiana Governor and the current Indiana Legislature have worked in concert to place obstacles in her pathway for leading Indiana's education program implementation and have overtly worked to diminish the Indiana State School Superintendent's authority to oversee the day to day workings of the Indiana Department of Education. Superintendent Ritz is running with the full support of John Gregg, the Democratic candidate for Indiana Governor.

Voter registration closes October 11, and election day is November 8, 2016. The Frances Slocum Chapter of ISTA-Retired urges support for public education and encourages all citizens to verify their voter registration and to vote, on or before November 8, for candidates who will support our community public schools .

Voter registration verification and online voter registration form can be found at:

http://m.indianavoters.com